Hidden Brains Insights

Cisco estimates the number of wearable devices in use will jump to almost 177 million by 2018. These numbers will be reinforced with increasing mobile users and high-speed internet connection.

Image Courtesy: Cisco

The Wearable devices app development is now taking personalization to the new level. It is something that you are now going to wear-right from clothing, glasses, helmets to watches. All the possibilities will be driven by the Internet of Everything (IoE), aimed at providing context-based and valuable connections.

In spite of all the favorable statistics, wearable app developments is not an easy task. The app developers for the wearable technology face challenges which have direct impact on the efficiency of the wearable apps.

Wearable Technology App Development: Before you Begin

Here is the list of things that you need to keep in mind in order to develop a best wearable app:

Develop an app for wearables. Don’t make a replica of iPhone or Android apps.

Ensuring Cross Platform Capability

With a wide range of wearable devices proliferating across the market, it is important to ensure that apps work well across multiple devices. An app needs to reach out to greater number of consumers. It is important not to be platform centric, rather build apps for smart wearables that come in various shapes and sizes and use different technologies.
If the app developed is cross-platform, it would help app developers to reach multiple user bases. As companies are working to expand their wearable sections by enticing more users to buy wearable products, developers will stay ahead in competition if they offer an application that is available to download from any platform.

Battery Friendly

Battery usage continues to be one of the biggest woes for wearable app development. Always ensure that the app is optimized for performance and devoid of unwarranted features that increase battery consumption. If users have to select between the app and phone life, most certainly users will select phone life. Keep your wearable app simple and don’t add complex features to increase battery life.

Staying ahead with Updates

Wearables apps should lets you stay ahead of competition to ensure success. Technology is changing at a rapid pace and apps that can be easily updated and adapted for different languages and devices will stay ahead.

Partial Devices

In most cases, wearable apps are not standalone devices, rather tethered devices. What happens if tethered device stops working? Wearables with very small screens and limited functionality depend on larger device such as smartphone to access all the features of the application. Until advances advancement in technologies enable wearable apps to function on their own developers must consider the effects of draining smart phone’s battery, the wearable leaving Bluetooth range.

Quick Time-to-Market & Application Development

New wearables are hitting the market while others are discontinuing production. This is a fast-paced field with high growth but also increasing needs and demands. Developers need to work quickly and efficiently to accomplish rapid development and launch with quick turn-around on consumer critiques to keep their products successful.

Data Security

App developers need to make security as a focal point of the app development process and ensure that apps only access required data in a secured fashion. While developing apps for wearable devices is a challenge, it can prove to be rewarding and lucrative. With changing platforms and tools, developers should meet the changing demands of users with intuitive interface.

Classic Case of HoloLens and Business Implementation

Image Courtesy: Microsoft

HoloLens introduces "holographic" overlay technology that could provide workers the opportunity to engage with environment in collaborative ways. This technology will facilitate communication with remote teams across the globe. It would be easy to share and bring your ideas to life in the form of holographic image to your workspace. Training sessions on complex topics could become easy by projecting instructions over the real life projects.

Some companies are already embracing the power of this technology and integrating wearables in their overall operations. However, businesses have just scratched the surface. There are plenty of opportunities yet to be discovered.

Conclusion

According to PWC’s The Wearable Future report: Wearables will be “the next big thing,” with some 130 million wearable devices expected to ship by 2018. Wearables can dramatically reshape the way we do business. However, it is important to include wearables in the mobile-first strategy to deliver value to end-user.